21 November 2007

"When Risch announced Oct. 9 that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Larry Craig, he flew around the state on a Lear 45 owned by Frank VanderSloot, the eastern Idaho multi-millionaire who is CEO of Melaleuca, Inc.

Federal Election Commission regulations apply to borrowed airplanes. Risch is required to pay VanderSloot “fair market value of such flight.” VanderSloot told me he had billed the Risch campaign for just under $12,000. He knows precisely what he is and isn’t allowed to do with his airplane, quoting chapter and verse from state and federal election laws.

When Boise businessman Walt Minnick announced last week he was entering the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, he flew on a five-seat prop chartered from SP Aircraft of Boise. Minnick told me the cost was about $1,500. He also knows the election laws."